West Windsor,
N.J.- Eavesdrop on small town gossip, playful bickering, and
the triumphs and tragedies of six Southern women when "Steel
Magnolias" comes to Mercer County Community College's
Kelsey Theatre. The Pennington Players presents this powerful
story of strength and friendship Fridays, March 25 and April
1 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, March 26 and April 2 at 7:30 p.m.;
and Sundays, March 27 and April 3 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre
is conveniently located on the college's Mercer's West
Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with
the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on
March 25.

Set in Truvy's Beauty Shop in the fictional town of Chinquapin,
La., "Steel Magnolias" follows the lives of six
resilient women as they share their personal triumphs, tragedies,
beauty tips, recipes and more. From the mundane to the essential,
they face their challenges with grace, strength - and perfectly
done hair!

This 1987 award-winning play by playwright Robert Harling
began as a short story, but evolved into a full-length drama
that delves into the characters' complex relationships and
emotions. A star-studded, Oscar-nominated film version was
released in 1989.

The all-female cast of six includes: Malissa Arnold, of Lawrenceville,
as the good-natured beauty-shop owner, Truvy; Morgan Petronis,
of Delran, as her apprentice beautician, Annelle; Bobbi Mendel
of Falls Township, Pa., as the cantankerous town eccentric,
Ouiser; Eve Connolly, of Lawrenceville, as the former First
Lady of Chinquapin Parrish, Clairee; Laurie Hardy, of Hamilton
Township, as M'Lynn Eatonton; and Sally Page, of Princeton,
as M'Lynn's daughter, Shelby.

Left
to right: Bobbi Mendel as Ouiser, Eve Connolly as Clairee,
Laurie Hardy as M'Lynn, Sally Page as Shelby,
Morgan Petronis as Annelle, and Malissa Arnold as Truvy.

The
production team is also all women, including director and set designer
Judi Parrish, of West Trenton, producer Jenn Gregg of Ewing and
stage manager Beverly Kuo-Hamilton of Princeton. Lighting design
is by M. Kitty Getlik, of Hamilton and costume design is by Katie
Cooper of Ewing. Props are by Dottie Farina of Hamilton and hair
styling consultation is by Teri-Ann Exner of Robbinsville.

The
Pennington Players have been entertaining local audiences since
1951. In 1964, it became the first group ever to perform at the
Washington Crossing State Park Open Air Theatre. The Players take
great pride in the many young people who have learned and grown
with them and gone on to professional careers in theater.

Tickets
are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students and children.
Free parking is available next to the theater. Tickets may be purchased
onlineor
by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre
is wheelchair accessible.

For
a
complete listing of the
events schedule and more at Kelsey Theatre visit: